While reading the respective prophetic passages we are recognising that the forces which will bring about an unbelievable destruction have already lifted their heads. In Rev. 9, from verse 13, we are told what will take place when the sixth trumpet sounds. The four judgement angels are bound at the great river Euphrates »for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men.« Anyone who looks at the world-map will notice that the river Euphrates has its course through Syria and the Iraq, merging into the Persian Gulf. We all still remember the Gulf war and »Desert Storm«. As of late it became even more obvious that these forces who are archenemies of Israel plan that destruction. In Rev. 16 the river Euphrates is mentioned again, »And the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, Euphrates, and its water was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.« (verse 12). Of course, this will take place after the going away of the Bride church, when the kings of the whole earth are gathered for the battle of the great day of God Almighty (vv. 12-16). Surely, the Rapture must be very close. In the prophetic Scripture we are also told about the chemical weapons which will be used against Israel, but God at that moment will interfere and turn the whole thing and let it fall upon the enemies of Israel. »And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will smite all the peoples that have fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.« (Zech. 14:12).

The question is permitted: If these forces already lift their heads (and no inspection or sanction will hold them back), how close must be the realisation of the matter? To be more specific: How near must the event of the Rapture be?

The river Euphrates is one of the four streams which were in the region of the paradise — the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:10-14). There, where the cradle of humanity stood, where paradise was, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham and gave the land from the brook of Egypt until the river Euphrates to his seed for ever (Gen. 15:18), there the enemies of Israel not only desire the promised land but wish to destroy God’s people. Now they have drawn world attention to their existence. But they will not succeed even being joined with all the forces of the United Nations. The Lord God of Israel will decide that great battle (Ezech. 38:22-23). The boundaries of the land of Israel are determined by God Himself as found in Joshua 1:4 and other places: from Lebanon to the river Euphrates and unto the Great Sea, the Mediterranean.

It is obvious that the enemies of Israel talk about peace in hypocrisy, trying to divide the promised Land and are totally against the chosen people who are the original bearers of God’s promises (Rom. 9:4). In the same way are God’s enemies against the true New Testament Church. All who are of Christ bear the promises of God. The rest are not concerned about them. The enemy only fights those who return to the promised Land and into the promised Word. Brother Branham, who was a man sent from God in our time, made a very important statement, as I remember, »God can bless Israel only in the Promised Land.« In the same way God can bless His people from the nations only in the promised Word for this day.

Concerning the things of the end-time our Lord repeatedly admonished, »Those who would read, take heed«. He also said, »When you see these things …!« He foretold what would happen to Israel and also foretold the course of the Church, and so it is. Those who read the Word of God, let them pay attention, let them hear. »Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is at hand.« (Rev. 1:3).

Truly we are living at the end of the last days. But who recognises it? Who does see that the concern is now the fulfilment of Bible prophecy — not the many prophecies which are given in charismatic meetings where people prophesy their own thoughts and express the intentions and imaginations of their hearts? Now the weight must be placed upon the Word of prophecy wherein all things are foretold. The Apostle Peter stated that we should take heed to the Word of prophecy which shines as a bright light in a dark place (2 Pet. 1:19-21). The time is truly far spent. Israel celebrates the 70th jubilee. In 1948, when after 2,000 years Israel became a nation, it was the 69th jubilee. The true believers among the Jews express their greatest desire and longing at the Wailing Wall that they wish to see the coming of the Messiah and the re-building of the Temple.

Although God does not go by our calendar, and as we know our time is four to seven years behind, we do notice while reading the prophetic Scripture, that the time of fulfilment of all predictions in connection with Israel are in process and the return of Christ is near. The last call goes forth, »Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!« Now we must prepare to meet Him. The last call goes forth according to the promised Word, so the Bride will come out from all which is not according to the Scripture and be cleansed and purified and become a Word-Bride. The Bridegroom is the Word made flesh, and at His coming He will find a Word-Bride.

We must recognise what God is doing now, not only preach and speak about things He has done in the past or will do in the future. It was always the mark of the true believers that at their time they recognised what God was doing. Everything is foreordained and when the time comes it is and shall be fulfilled right to the end. God puts the things which we are taking with us into eternity into our hearts by divine revelation. Even if we do not understand at the first moment what He is doing, we accept it because it is according to His Word. We are grateful for this certainty we do have, as He does all things according to what He promised. We also acknowledge that no one should add or take away from the Word of God.

God is at work, soon it will be His final doing. As it happened at the first coming of Christ, He has also before His second coming sent someone to restore all things (Mt. 17:11) and to turn the hearts of God’s children now back to the apostolic fathers, as John turned the hearts of the Old Testament fathers then to the New Testament children (Lk. 1:16). All who are acquainted with the promises believe and have part in the calling out, in the restoration — preparation and in the completion of the Bride-Church. Now is the time that all who are part of the Bride of Christ are brought into step with the Bridegroom and the Word of the hour. May those who read take heed and those who listen may act accordingly.

While reading the respective prophetic passages we are recognising that the forces which will bring about an unbelievable destruction have already lifted their heads. In Rev. 9, from verse 13, we are told what will take place when the sixth trumpet sounds. The four judgement angels are bound at the great river Euphrates »for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men.« Anyone who looks at the world-map will notice that the river Euphrates has its course through Syria and the Iraq, merging into the Persian Gulf. We all still remember the Gulf war and »Desert Storm«. As of late it became even more obvious that these forces who are archenemies of Israel plan that destruction. In Rev. 16 the river Euphrates is mentioned again, »And the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, Euphrates, and its water was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.« (verse 12). Of course, this will take place after the going away of the Bride church, when the kings of the whole earth are gathered for the battle of the great day of God Almighty (vv. 12-16). Surely, the Rapture must be very close. In the prophetic Scripture we are also told about the chemical weapons which will be used against Israel, but God at that moment will interfere and turn the whole thing and let it fall upon the enemies of Israel. »And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will smite all the peoples that have fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.« (Zech. 14:12).

The question is permitted: If these forces already lift their heads (and no inspection or sanction will hold them back), how close must be the realisation of the matter? To be more specific: How near must the event of the Rapture be?

The river Euphrates is one of the four streams which were in the region of the paradise — the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:10-14). There, where the cradle of humanity stood, where paradise was, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham and gave the land from the brook of Egypt until the river Euphrates to his seed for ever (Gen. 15:18), there the enemies of Israel not only desire the promised land but wish to destroy God’s people. Now they have drawn world attention to their existence. But they will not succeed even being joined with all the forces of the United Nations. The Lord God of Israel will decide that great battle (Ezech. 38:22-23). The boundaries of the land of Israel are determined by God Himself as found in Joshua 1:4 and other places: from Lebanon to the river Euphrates and unto the Great Sea, the Mediterranean.

It is obvious that the enemies of Israel talk about peace in hypocrisy, trying to divide the promised Land and are totally against the chosen people who are the original bearers of God’s promises (Rom. 9:4). In the same way are God’s enemies against the true New Testament Church. All who are of Christ bear the promises of God. The rest are not concerned about them. The enemy only fights those who return to the promised Land and into the promised Word. Brother Branham, who was a man sent from God in our time, made a very important statement, as I remember, »God can bless Israel only in the Promised Land.« In the same way God can bless His people from the nations only in the promised Word for this day.

Concerning the things of the end-time our Lord repeatedly admonished, »Those who would read, take heed«. He also said, »When you see these things …!« He foretold what would happen to Israel and also foretold the course of the Church, and so it is. Those who read the Word of God, let them pay attention, let them hear. »Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is at hand.« (Rev. 1:3).

Truly we are living at the end of the last days. But who recognises it? Who does see that the concern is now the fulfilment of Bible prophecy — not the many prophecies which are given in charismatic meetings where people prophesy their own thoughts and express the intentions and imaginations of their hearts? Now the weight must be placed upon the Word of prophecy wherein all things are foretold. The Apostle Peter stated that we should take heed to the Word of prophecy which shines as a bright light in a dark place (2 Pet. 1:19-21). The time is truly far spent. Israel celebrates the 70th jubilee. In 1948, when after 2,000 years Israel became a nation, it was the 69th jubilee. The true believers among the Jews express their greatest desire and longing at the Wailing Wall that they wish to see the coming of the Messiah and the re-building of the Temple.

Although God does not go by our calendar, and as we know our time is four to seven years behind, we do notice while reading the prophetic Scripture, that the time of fulfilment of all predictions in connection with Israel are in process and the return of Christ is near. The last call goes forth, »Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!« Now we must prepare to meet Him. The last call goes forth according to the promised Word, so the Bride will come out from all which is not according to the Scripture and be cleansed and purified and become a Word-Bride. The Bridegroom is the Word made flesh, and at His coming He will find a Word-Bride.

We must recognise what God is doing now, not only preach and speak about things He has done in the past or will do in the future. It was always the mark of the true believers that at their time they recognised what God was doing. Everything is foreordained and when the time comes it is and shall be fulfilled right to the end. God puts the things which we are taking with us into eternity into our hearts by divine revelation. Even if we do not understand at the first moment what He is doing, we accept it because it is according to His Word. We are grateful for this certainty we do have, as He does all things according to what He promised. We also acknowledge that no one should add or take away from the Word of God.

God is at work, soon it will be His final doing. As it happened at the first coming of Christ, He has also before His second coming sent someone to restore all things (Mt. 17:11) and to turn the hearts of God’s children now back to the apostolic fathers, as John turned the hearts of the Old Testament fathers then to the New Testament children (Lk. 1:16). All who are acquainted with the promises believe and have part in the calling out, in the restoration — preparation and in the completion of the Bride-Church. Now is the time that all who are part of the Bride of Christ are brought into step with the Bridegroom and the Word of the hour. May those who read take heed and those who listen may act accordingly.